Don't Be Afraid Of Herps! (Part I)-Snakes

Yes, it's spelled H-e-r-p-s, as in Herpetology, the study of amphibians and reptiles. If you quickly scanned and misread this word, let me just say, you SHOULD be afraid of Herpes, the scary STD. But Herps are mostly harmless and even beneficial to humans.

Now, I'm NOT saying you should pick up the next rattlesnake you see and give them a hug; that would make herpes look like a picnic. What I am saying is, herps deserve more respect and less hatred and fear.

Snakes, The Destroyers of Plagues: My favorite herp is the most misunderstood. Ever since Eve told God, "Hey, that snake made me do it!" we have stomped on snakes every chance we get. Snakes are always the villain, but is their bad rap deserved?

Well, people in the middle ages thought cats were evil too. (see http://reasonism.org/index.php/main-content/blog/33-the-negative-effects-of-religion/2660-christianity-the-plague-cats-and-rats) Do you know what cats and snakes have in common? Well, besides both being connected with naughty, evil Paganism, THEY BOTH EAT RODENTS. So while everyone was going around killing snakes and cats, guess what started to thrive...yep, RATS.

Rats, or more specifically, the fleas on rats, were responsible for the Bubonic plague (which also makes herpes look like a cake walk). Cats and snakes eat rats. People classify both cats and snakes as evil and start killing them off. Rats multiply. Fleas multiply. Hmmmmmmmmm?

Did you ever hear of Egypt getting a plague from rats? Well, I think it's because they revered both cats and snakes highly. Just my theory.

Anyway, so snakes control rodents, which controls disease. At least give them props for that!

3 Myths About Snakes

• They are slimy. In fact, their skin is very smooth and dry, never slimy.
• St. Patrick was credited for driving snakes out of Ireland. According to scientists, snakes were NEVER in the Emerald Isles to begin with!
• Most snakes are poisonous. Only about 10% of snake species are poisonous.(source: http://www.umass.edu/nrec/snake_pit/pages/myth.html) And only 1 out of 50 million people die from snake bites a year. http://ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/venomous_snake_faqs.shtml

Snakes also make great pets. My corn snake never snaps at me, and loves to cuddle up around my shoulders. I'd like to think she's "loving", even though she's cold blooded.

Here are some links to further educate yourself:

How to identify a poisonous snake: http://www.backyardnature.net/snakvenm.htm

Snakes as pets: http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/snakes/a/snakesaspets.htm

Part II coming soon!